Balsam Beartown Mountain, Virginia - Hiking Trails Near

Balsam Beartown Mountain, Virginia - Hiking Trails Near

Beartown Mountain is a spur of Clinch Mountain, one of the highest mountains in Virginia (8th tallest), and is considered by some to be one of the toughest climbs to an eastern US county highpoint. It gets climbed by few highpointers and maybe some bear hunters. I suspect it infrequently climbed because it is a long off trail slog (see topo).The usual approach by many highpointers is from Tumbling Creek Rd up the ridge between Red Creek and Tumbling Creek. A route up the western grassy ridge offers a much less strenuous, more scenic climb but access is over private land with multiple landowners. (See the other route descriptions) This mountain is in the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA). It is Virginias second largest WMA with 25,477 acres. The ridgelines south and northeast of the summit are the approximate boundary for the Wildlife Management Area (see topo) Small cliffs on the various routes off stunning views.